A Case of prurigo nodularis in 47-year-old female was presented with brief review of literatures. This is one of relatively rare dermatoses and still has many disputes in etiology and classification. Multiple erythematous brownish hyperkeratotic lichenified nodules were scattered on the back and extremities associated with intolerable itching trouble. Histopathologically, severe hyperkeratosis with focal neutrophile infiltration and pseudoapitheliomatous hyperplasia of acanthotic lesion in the epidermis is presented. Diagnosis was confirmed by characteristic clinical pictures and histopathological features. Treatment with corticosteroids, sediatives and tranquilizers revealed of favorable results.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Dissent and Disputes ; Epidermis ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Middle Aged ; Neutrophils ; Prurigo* ; Pruritus ; Skin Diseases

A case of incontinentia pigmenti without any developmental defect has been presented. And literatures have been reviewed. The patient was a 20 year old female and had been affected with numerous dark brownish linear streaks of pigmentation on the entirebody. No familiar traits were noted. Diagnosis was confirmed by characteristic clinical picture, laboratory and histopathologic findings.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incontinentia Pigmenti* ; Pigmentation ; Young Adult

A case of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) was presented in 46 year-old male patient. The characteristic skin lesions of TEN were developed after some medictions and tetanus anti-toxin (TAT) injection due to trauma. Probably, the cause of the disease was drugs, TAT injection or trauma inself. On the pathologic findings, lower epidermis and dermo-epidermal cleavage were noticed. He was treated with massive antibiotics and steroid. About 7 days after therapy, much improvement achived. However foul odorous yellowish discharge was noticed since 20 days of hospitalization. Wide debridement of necrotic tissue was carried without improvement. Patient expired on 48th hospital day due to sepsis and impending hepatic coma.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Debridement ; Epidermis ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odors ; Sepsis ; Skin ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome* ; Tetanus

A case of 17 years old male with KPP of Tbost-Unna Type is reported. The akin lesions were characterized by the presence of confluent, sharply demarcated hyperk eratotic plaques on the palmar and plantar surfaces. Hypercontraction of palms and soles and hyperhidro is of scalp, face, palms and soles were also noted. Roentogenologic study revealed secondary changes of osteoporosis, flexion deformity and osteoarthritis due to soft tissue contracture and phalangeal and metatarsal bones of hands and feet showed bony resorption with tapering appearance. Histalogic findings of palmar lesion showed excessive hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis and acantosis in the epidermis and no pathology was noted in the dermis and skin appendages, He was treated with hot water compress, 5% Salicylic acid ointment and vit. A and D for 2 months and favorable effect was noted. Authors reviewed relevant literature and made discussions also.
Adolescent ; Betazole ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Keratoderma, Palmoplantar* ; Keratosis* ; Male ; Metatarsal Bones ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteoporosis ; Parakeratosis ; Pathology ; Salicylic Acid ; Scalp ; Skin ; Water

PURPOSE: The loss of estrogen and progesterone receptors appeats to be associated with a progression to less differentiated and hormone-independent tumors. The gain of hormone independency over time even in estrogen receptor-positive tumors has become another obstacle to endocrine therapy for breast cancer. We tried to regain the hormone dependency in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cells by lipofecting estmgen receptor cDNA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mutant human estrogen receptor cDNA (pSGS-HEO) was lipofected into estrogen receptor-negative human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, in an attempt to restore their sensitivity to antiestrogen. Then the effects of 17p-estradiol and tamoxifen were studied by counting viable cell numbers after treating the lipofected cell line with either one or together. RESULTS: Culture medium cantaining phenol red, a weak estrogen, has growth advantages compared with culture medium without it. In both culture conditions, cell growth was most profoundly inhibited in 4 days after lipofection with mutant human estrogen receptor cDNA, which was overcome after that day. Tamoxifen, as an antiestrogen, showed a growth inhibitory effect slightly stronger tban combined conditions of tamoxifen and 17- estradiol compared to estrogen-treated group and to control, and the inhibitory effect was lasted 4 days. CONCLUSION: The temporary induction of estrogen receptor by lipofection with pSGS-HEO on estrogen receptor-negative human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 showed negative growth control on these cells by tamoxifen, indicating that liposome-mediated estrogen receptor transfection may be used as a novel therapeutic strategy for hormane independent human breast cancers in the near future.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cell Count ; Cell Line ; DNA, Complementary ; Estradiol ; Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; Estrogens* ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans* ; Phenolsulfonphthalein ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Tamoxifen ; Transfection

Serum zinc is an essential element in men and animals. Recently on the dermatologic fields, the serum and the skin levels and the roles of zinc have been studied especially in acne vulgaris, but the results were controversial. So to confirm the previous reports and for evaluation of the relationship between the various aspects of acne vulgaris and the serum levels of zinc, the serum levels of zinc were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer in 13 healthy controls and 46 patients with acne vulgaris. In the healthy controls, their mean values of zinc were 0.843+0.251 ppm in total, 0.920+0.219 ppm, in females and 0.777+0.260 ppm in males. There was no statistical difference attributable to sex. In the 46 patients with acne vulgaris, their mean value of zinc was 0.741+0.195 ppm. There was no significant difference in the mean serum zinc level compared with the controls. In the males with acne, the mean va1ue of zinc was 0.727+0.166 ppm, and 0.748+0.208 ppm in females with acne. There was no significant statistical difference between males and females with acne. And females, but not males, with acne had significantly lower serum zinc levelss than controls of the corresponding sex. (p<0.1) By clinical severity, classifying the 46 patients with acne vulgaris into three groups: mild type (only comedones), moderate type (comedones with pa.pules) and severe type (includes pustules, comedones, and papules, etc.), the serum zinc levels of each group were 0.774+0.185 ppm, 0.7880. 200 ppm and 0.666+0.176 ppm. The significant statistical difference was found only in the severe type of acne compared with the healthy controls (p<0.05). Also classifying the patients into three groups (acute, moderate and chronic types of acne) by duration of acne, the serum values of zinc were 0.738+0.158 ppm, 0.692+0.283 ppm and 0.769+0.241 ppm, respectively. Only in the moderate type of acne, the mean serum level of zinc was significantly reduced compared with the control group (p<0.1)
Absorption ; Acne Vulgaris* ; Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Skin ; Zinc*

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Tubal*

No abstract available.
Neural Conduction*

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a major etiologic agent of hospital acquired infection. Coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) species are previously regarded as contaminants. However nowadays CNS were regarded as an important cause of bacteremia. So in this study we wanted to analyze the patterns of plasmids and antimicrobial susceptibility test of Staphylococcus species isolated from clinical specimens. METHOD: Plasmid DNA was extracted and then processed through restriction enzyme digestion for plasmid analysis of S. aureus and antimicrobial susceptibility, which was done by agar dilution method. For S. epidermidis plasmid analysis was done without enzyme digestion. RESULTS: All of MRSA have 1 to 5 plasmids. There exists 6 patterns of S. aureus plasmid without enzyme digestion. With EcoRI and HindIII digestion pattern were more distinct and clear. For S. epidermidis enzyme digestion is not needed. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of S. aureus are simple whereas S. epidermidis showed variable patterns. CONCLUSIONS: For the plasmid analysis of S. aureus restriction enzyme digestion is required and for the S. epidermidis, the pattern of plasmids are variable so without restriction enzyme analysis we can obtain several patterns. Plasmid analysis will be used as a good epidemilogical tool for Staphylococcus.
Agar ; Bacteremia ; Coagulase ; Digestion ; DNA ; DNA Restriction Enzymes* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Plasmids* ; Restriction Mapping ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus*

Prior to the introduction of CT, the clinical and radiological diagnosis of the intraventicular hemorrhage inliving patients was difficult. C.T. scanning is an invaluable investigation provding the rapid and noninvasivediagnosis of intracerebral and intraventricular hemorrhage. It reliably demonstrated the presence and distributionof fresh blood within the ventricular system. CT is also useful as a surgical guidance and in the evaluation offate of the hematoma by easily performable follow-up studies. We reviewed 3 cases of intraventricular hemorrhagein CT in the departement of radiology of Ewha Womans University hospital during the period from August, 1982 toAugust, 1983. The results were as follows: 1. The most patients were encountered in the 5th decade and the male tofemale ratio was 1.2:1. 2. Hypertension was the main cause of the intraventricular hemorrhage; 18 out of 31patients. Remaning 13 patients were caused by hypoxia, aneurysm, Moya Moya disease, coagulation defect, trauma andundetermined etiology. 3. 18 out of 31 patients showed hemorrhage in the lateral ventricles only and allventricles in 10 patients. 4. 28 out of 31 patients showed associated with intracranial hematoma: Those wereintracerebral hematomas in 16 patients, intracerebral hematoma with subarachnoid hemorrhage in 4 patients andextracerebral hematoma in 2 patients. 5. Outcome was assessed using the Glasgow scale. According to them the totalmortality rate was 54.8%, however, 32.2% of patients retured to normal or minor disablity. Patients, who hadhypertension and markded degree of hemorrhage in the ventricular systems had a poor outcome. Patients with onlyventricular hemorrhage had better outcome than associated intracranial hematoma. 6. 16 out of 31 patients weretreated by surgical methods and 15 out of 31 patients by conservative methods. 75% of patients were died inconservative treatment. 7. Conclusively, causes, degree of intraventricular hemorrhage and associatedintraventricular hematoma play an important role in outcome. And surgical treatment was beneficial in only a smallselective number of cases in intraventricular hemorrhage.
Aneurysm ; Anoxia ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Lateral Ventricles ; Male ; Moyamoya Disease ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage